Anatomic basis of Arnold's ear-cough reflex.

A clinical survey of 500 patients revealed 4.2% incidence of Arnold's ear-cough reflex. The reflex was bilateral in 2.8% of the patients. It was also elicitable from the anterior meatal wall in 2% of the patients, thus questioning the classically taught distribution of Arnold's nerve. Arnold's nerve also mediates the auriculo-palatal, auriculo-lacrimal, auriculo-cardiac and the ear-vomiting reflexes; but these are less apparent and not so commonly encountered.